noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
honorable death; death without surrender; honorable defeat
Originally a military term for choosing death over surrender; now used metaphorically for a noble but crushing defeat, often with a sense of tragic glory.
彼らは最後まで戦い、玉砕した。
They fought to the end and died an honorable death.
その作戦は玉砕に終わっ
The operation ended in an honorable defeat.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
utter defeat; complete rejection
Colloquial extension: trying hard but failing spectacularly, or being totally rejected in a romantic confession. Often used self-deprecatingly or humorously.
告白したら見事に玉砕した。
I confessed my love and was completely shot down.
試験に玉砕して、また来年頑張る。
I failed the exam miserably, but I'll try again next year.